How Can A Player Be A Good Three Point Shooter & A Bad Free Throw Shooter
Doing a little college basketball stuff, I came across Obi Muonelo, who plays for Oklahoma State. Looking at his stats, I was amazed to see that Muonelo was only a 58.9% free throw shooter, despite being a 42.6% three point shooter. I took my amazement to Twitter, and the great Tom Haberstroh let me know that this happens in the NBA too:
Happens in NBA too… http://3.ly/5GCg RT @SebastianPruiti How can someone who shots 42.6% from the 3 only shoot 58.9 FT%? http://3.ly/Q5mS
Tom’s list is an all-time single season list (and Bruce Bowen is featured a ton there), and it got me thinking. I decided to use this past season and take a look at above average three point shooters with at least 100 attempts (35.6%) and try to figure out why they are below average free throw shooters (76.2%). Looking at these guys (you can find the full list here) three point attempts and their foul shots, I came to the conclusion that there are three main reasons why this happens. They include not getting to the line enough and jump shooters struggling with a set shot from the line.
Not Getting To The Line Enough
This to me is the easiest one to explain. Most three point shooters are guys who are going to be floating around the three point line. This means that they aren’t going to be attacking the basketball much, and they are less likely to get into the lane, invite contact, and draw fouls. Look at Jason Kapono for example. Out of all the NBA players who attempted 100 three pointers, Kapono had the lowest free throw percentage (60%).
That stat is a little misleading though, since Kapono only attempted 15 free throws, meaning that he only missed six of them but still has the FT % of 60%. This is the ultimate example of small sample size, since Kapono is a career 83.5% free throw shooter. If Kapono would have gotten to the line more, he probably would have made them and saw his FT% increase.
Jump Shooters Shooting Set Shots
This is the first thing that I thought of when thinking about why good three point shooters struggle with free throws. The reason is because jump shooters spend all game shooting jump shots, that when they go to the line to take set shots, everything gets thrown off. After watching some clips of Mickael Pietrus shooting both threes and free throws, my theory was proved correct.
Piterus was above average from three last year, shooting 37.9% from three point range. He benefits from Orlando’s 1 in 4 out style, and he is able to catch and shoot in rhythm and with confidence:
Pietrus’ form on three pointers is really good, and he has good jump shot fundamentals (though you would like to see his feet shoulder’s width apart rather than close together, but it works for him). He makes his catch, doesn’t bring the ball down, jumps straight up and down, and follows through well.
However, from the free throw line Pietrus struggles (he shot 63.3% from the line last year and he shoots 66.4% from the line for his career). He demonstrates some poor mechanics, especially when it comes to his lower body:
Notice the little hitch when Pietrus bends his knees? He actually bends his knees twice when in his shooting motion, almost as if he is loading up twice getting ready to shoot. The result here is that Pietrus clangs this one off the back rim. This must be a familiar sight for Magic fans because while looking through all of Pietrus’ misses, it seems like most of them come off the back rim:
All off of the back rim. Even on his makes, Pietrus just doesn’t look comfortable at the line. Check out his body language on these shots:
You have to believe that the double knee bend in his form is what is causing him problems. Another thing that could be giving him problems is the fact that he (and other jump shooters taking foul shots) may be over compensating for not jumping. Since they don’t jump, they might feel like they have to put a little more on it, sending them flying off the back rim.
The final thing that may hurt Pietrus (and other jump shooting three point shooters) is that these guys are all mostly catch and shoot guys. Looking at Pietrus specifically, 86.2% of his threes were assisted (and that is catch and shoot at that distance). That rhythm you develop catching and shooting is so different from standing there, waiting to get the ball, taking a few dribbles, then shooting without jumping.
